Anthology of Art at the National Museum of Anthropology

The Museo Nacional de Antropologia is one of the finest archaeological museums in the world. Located in Mexico City, the museum has an impressive collection of artifacts across 23 exhibition galleries. The Aztec sun stone, which served as a cosmological calendar, is the pride of the museum.

The National Museum of Anthropology was thrown open to the public in 1971. The building of the museum was designed by master architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. The ground floor is dedicated to art of the indigenous cultures and societies prior to the Spanish conquest. The Aztec sun stone is just one of the many masterpieces of the local art of Mexico.

Each gallery of the museum is a microcosm for the larger geographic region and culture. Some of famous galleries include Sala Teotihuacána, Sala Tolteca, and Sala Oaxaca. Some of the exhibits feature English translations, while most have explanatory notes.

The Aztec Sun Stone, known as Piedra del Sol, is housed in Room 7 or Sala Mexica. It is 12 feet in length, weighing over 25 tons. The stone is intricately carved and describes the life of the Aztec people. It has become the most famous symbol in Mexico. The stone is dated back to 14th century, and it was discovered below the Zócalo in 1790. The stone was initially believed to be a calendar. Some even thought that it was an altar for sacrifice.

The Sun God Tonatiuh occupies a place in the center of the stone. The remaining carvings represent the cosmology of the Aztecs. The Aztecs were of the view that the world had passed through four phases of creation and destruction prior to civilization. The four panels are a symbol for the creative and destructive forces of the four worlds. The destructive forces are symbolized by jaguars, wind, firestorms, and water, respectively. The panels have a ring, which represents 20 days in an Aztec month. The outer ring is comprised of two snakes, dating back 1011 AD. The Aztecs believed that their world belonged to the fifth sun.

The museum’s other famous works include a replica of Moctezuma’s – an Aztec ruler – head gown. Vienna houses the original one. Also popular are stela from Tula, Olmec heads from Veracruz, and the striking reproduction of Maya murals.

The Mayan tomb of eighth century rule Pacal was discovered at Palenque. The skeleton is well preserved and lies in a huge stone chamber. The stairwell walls are well decorated with bas-relief scenes belonging to the underworld. The jade death mask of the ruler is also exhibited.

The museum provides the anthology of the descendants of the Aztec community. The nine galleries have exhibits of the indigenous population, including maps, photographs, objet d’art, and religious articles.

The museum is located on avenida Paseo de la Reforma and calzada Gandhi, Mexico City. Avenida Paseo de la Reforma connects directly to the museum.